Rugby: Big three back in semifinal

Quade Cooper of the Reds. Photo / Getty Images

Queensland will regain the services of three key players for Saturday's Super 15 semifinal against the Blues in Brisbane.

Two test backs, winger Digby Ioane and centre Anthony Faingaa, and flanker Beau Robinson, are all on track to return to the side after injury.

Ioane, who was man-of-the-match in the Reds' 37-31 win over the Blues in Brisbane in May, returns after missing two matches with concussion.

Faingaa sat out the past two games with a hamstring tear.

An elbow injury sidelined Robinson for the Reds' past three fixtures, but the flanker managed to play half a game of club rugby on Saturday.

Queensland coach Ewen McKenzie said they are three important and influential players.

"Apart from the nine and ten, Digby touches the ball more than anyone else and runs more metres and breaks more tackles, so he's pretty important.

"Anthony Faingaa probably leads our defensive efforts every week, so there's another guy that's been pretty important to us.

"We've done well without them but, in attack and defence, they are pretty influential players for us and Beau Robinson the same," McKenzie said.

- AAP